“He has not made himself available” Nick Kyrgios’ Davis Cup absence doesn’t sit well with team captain Lleyton Hewitt and Alex de Minaur

“He has not made himself available” Nick Kyrgios’ Davis Cup absence doesn’t sit well with team captain Lleyton Hewitt and Alex de Minaur

Lleyton Hewitt, Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios, the highest-ranked singles player for Australia in the ATP rankings remained absent from the 2022 Davis Cup Finals. The Australian stayed home with his ailing parents and played a few exhibition matches but did not join the team for national duty choosing to stay back home.

His presence might have made the difference for Australia who finished runner-up at this year’s Davis Cup losing to Canada in the title match. Canada won the finals 2-0 to win the ‘World Cup of Tennis’ for the first time. As for Australia, the wait for their 29th title continued as the title last went Down Under in 2003.

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With Kyrgios reaching the finals of Wimbledon and the quarter-finals of the US Open this year, the big-serving Aussie would have been lethal on the indoor hardcourts of Malaga where the Davis Cup finals were played. Team captain Lleyton Hewitt who won the title for Australia in 2003 was rather frustrated with questions surrounding Kyrgios and let it known during a press conference later.

“I don’t know. You have to ask him. I can’t try any harder. I try and come here with the best possible team we can field,” said Hewitt as per Eurosport UK. The former World No. 1 had hoped that Kyrgios would make himself available but was left disappointed with his absence this year.

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Alex de Minaur says Australia can win the Davis Cup even without Nick Kyrgios

Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios
Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios

With Kyrgios absent from the competition, World No. 24 Alex de Minaur was the highest-ranked Aussie in the team that finished runner-up. de Minaur had also wished that Kyrgios would have joined them and even made a personal effort to convince Kyrgios but it wasn’t fruitful.

“Regarding Nick’s involvement, he has not made himself available, I have nothing to add. I have tried as well. Just wasn’t meant to be. But as a team we came close to winning so we can do it without him. As a team we are very close, even during the year we talk to each other often and it shows that we are a family,” said de Minaur on the whole situation revolving around Kyrgios.

With Kyrgios showing hunger and fire this season to compete for the biggest prize in tennis, one can only hope that he shows up for Davis Cup as well next year and take the ‘Tennis World Cup’ home next year.

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